Advertisement

More stories

In the alternative budget unveiled today, it also said that Sabah and Sarawak will get half of the allocated 60 per cent of the development budget. — Picture by Saw Siow FengKUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 — Pakatan Harapan today pledged under its alternative budget to allocate 60 per cent of the annual federal development budget for the five poorest states in the country — Sabah, Kelantan, Sarawak, Kedah and Terengganu.

In the alternative budget unveiled today, it also said that Sabah and Sarawak will get half of the allocated 60 per cent of the development budget.

"With an average development budget of RM50 billion a year for Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak will receive half of the 60 per cent allocation," according to the budget document.

"This yields RM 15 billion worth of development projects for Sabah and Sarawak annually under our budget proposal," it added.

It also said that both Sabah and Sarawak will get a Public Services Commission that will be allowed to prioritise the hiring of locals to the civil services sector based on merits.

"In other words, if there are two equally capable candidates, one from the Peninsula and one from Borneo, the Commission is free to prioritise the latter," it said.

The biggest federal opposition coalition also said that it would push for an average 10 per cent increase in foreign worker levy every year to "increase the cost of importing foreign workers."

The coalition is also proposing setting up a fund of RM500 million as an incentive to local companies to make technological upgrades that would reduce dependency on foreign workers.

It also said that the existing 150,000 refugees in Malaysia should be allowed to work to reduce demand for foreign workers.